Operating table



2,27,7&3

4 Sheets-Sheet l @ch l5, 3.940. w. D. BELL OPERATING TABLE Filed June 9, 1938 @ci 15, i940. W. D, BELL ZWEYS OPERATING TABLE Filed June 9, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ct. l5, 1940. w, D, BELL OPERATING TABLE Filed June 9, 1958' 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Get. l5, E940. w. D. BELL 2,217,736

OPERATING TABLE Filed June 9, 1958 4 sheets-sheet 4 III I IIx M.. G ESQ um Plasma oct. 1s, 1940.`

'PATENT OFFICE OPERATING TABLE William D. Bell, Columbus, Ohio, assigner to F. 0. Schoedinger, Columbus, Ohio Application June 9, 1938, Serial No. 212,768 4 claims. (cl. 311-7) This invention relates generally to hospital equipment and is particularly directed to a new and improved operating table. Operating tables hitherto havebeen provided with a pedestal base and a supporting column arising therefrom, the upper end of the latter carrying a sectional table.

In tables of this type, the supporting column is usually adjustable vertically with respect to the base and the table adjustable relative to the l0 column, the' various sections of the table being movable relative to each other. Prior to this time, all of these adjusting operations have been effected throughlthe actuation of one or more hand wheels, cranks or pedals and screws or gears 16 connected therewith. 'I'his method of adjustment is slow and laborious and frequently results in sharp jerks or jolts being transmitted to the table.

The primary object Aof the present invention resides in the provision of an operating table having all the features of adjustment of prior tables, theadjustments being performed automatically by hydraulic means and with minimum eiort on the part of the operator.

It is also an object of the invention to provide means in connectionl with the table for controlling the adjustments thereof from a central point, the said means also providing for the simultaneous operation of two `or more parts of the table according to the desires of the operator or as occasion demands.

A further object of the invention rests in the provision of an operating table having a motor driven pump, a iluid supply source connected with the pump and power cylinders to receive iuirlv from the pump under pressure to effect the adjustmentof the various parts of the table and invention and illustrated in the accompanying` drawings.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of an operating table constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a. plan view of the table 4shown in Fig. l; Y

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional View of the table taken on the plane indicated by the line III-DI of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken through the base of the machine on the plane indicated by the line IV-IY of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a detail vertical longitudinal sectional view taken through the leg section of the table and the operating mechanism therefor, the plane of this section being` indicated by the line V-V Fig. 6 is a similar view of the back section of .5 the table, the plane of this section being indicated by the line VI-VI of Fig. 2; Y

Fig. 7 is a detail vertical longitudinal sectional view taken through the base elevating mechanism of the machine shown in Fig. 1; lo

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the control panel of the machine;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view through the control mechanism on the plane indicated by the line IX-IX of Fig. 8; l5

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view through one of the valves used in controlling a portion of the table, the plane of this section being indicated by the line X-X of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a similar view on the line XI-XI of 2g Fis. 9:

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view of the piping arrangement employed in the table shown in Fig. l Fig. 13 is a detail longitudinal sectional view of a by-pass valve used in the piping system. 2:,

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral I designates the entire Aoperating table. This table is similar to tables already manufactured in that it is provided with a base 2, a vertically extending column 3 and a sectional 30 platform 4. The various parts of the machine and the platform are movable relative to one another. 'I'he base 2 is preferably formed of a metallic casting and is provided on its under side with a plurality of spaced lugs 5. These lugs `form 35 the point of attachment of a plurality of links 6, w to the lower or free ends of which are secured caster members 1. A pair of these casters is arranged at the forward end of the base and a pair at the rear end thereof. 'I'hese pairs of casters ,u are connected by means of rods or similar devices 8 in order that all will move simultaneously. lThe base is also provided with a bracket 9 to which is fulcrumed a uid receiving cylinder I Il. A piston Il is mounted for sliding movement in the cylin- 45 der and a rod is rigidly secured to the piston at one end and at the opposite end is pivotally secured to the frame formed by the members 6 and 8.

As illustrated in Fig. 7, when the piston moves 5o toward the open end of the cylinder I0, the frame which carries the casters is swung on the links 6 and the casters will move downward relative to the base'and causes the latter to be raised from the oor or other supporting surface. When in as this position, the base can be moved in any desired manner depending upon the wishes of the operator or other attendant. The under side of the, base is also provided with a reservoir I2 for the reception of oil or other fluid used to operate the table. A motor I3 is positioned in the base to drive a gear pump I4 by means of which the fluid ispumped from the reservoir I2 to the cylinder I0 and other uid pressure responsive devices tobe hereinafter described. It may be found desirable to enclose the motor and the pump in a gas proof housing to minimize the danger of explosions.

Secured to the upper side of the base is a tubular member I5 in which is slidably positioned a piston I6. This piston constitutes a column on which the weight of the platform 4 is supported and between the end of the column I6 and the under side of the table, there is provided a universal mounting I1. This mounting is formed to include longitudinally and transversely extending pivots I8 and I9. The column and the base each carry shields and 2I which are in telescopic relation and serve to hide the member I5 and any other mechanism extending between the platform and the base. The column I6 is formed with a central opening 22 through which the operating fluid is passed to the interior of the cylinder I5 below the piston. When fluid is introduced into the cylinder, the piston will be moved outward and the platform will be raised in accordance with the quantity of iiuid introduced.

'Ihe platform is formed to include three sections 23, 24 and 25. The section 23 is used as a seat section, the section 24 as a back section and the section 25 as a foot section. The latter two sections are hinged as at 26 to the former section and this section is hinged by means of the pin I9 to the universal mounting. The hinging of these sections provides for relative adjustment between each of the sections as well as between the platform and the column. The under side of the section 23 is provided near its front and rear edges with a plurality of pairs of spaced lugs 2l and 21a and fluid receiving cylinders 28 are pivotally secured between the spaced lugs of each pair. These cylinders constitute part of the iiuid motors used to move the foot and back sections of the platform relative to the seat section 23. Each of the cylinders is provided with a longitudinally extending piston 29 and piston rods .30 extend from the piston to ears 3| provided on the under sides of the sections 24 and 25. The cylinders at the forward end of the seat section are single acting cylinders while those at the rear which serve to move the back section are double acting cylinders. The open ends of the former cylinders are provided with guides to kprevent lateral` movement on the part of the piston rod while the latter cylinders are provided with stuiiing boxes 32 to prevent the escape of fluid around the piston rods. Double acting cylinders are provided at this location to prevent the back'sectioln from moving too far when it is raised to an elevated position. As

is usual with tables of this character, the upper edge of the back section is provided with an adjustable head rest 33.

To provide power to move the section 23 and consequently the entire platform relative to the column, the under side of the section 23 is provided at the sides and front with additional ears to which are pivotally connected small universal connections 3 4 and 35, the connections 34 having secured thereto by means of pivots 36 a plurality .of motor cylinders 31.

The pistons 38 in these motor cylinders are connected by means of plston rods 39 to brackets 40 pivotally secured by means of studs 4I to the shield 2|. The connection between the piston rods 39 and the shield 2l provides for rocking movement on the part of this mechanism in two directions when the platform is tilted either longitudinally or transversely. A similar connection 42 is provided between the lower end of another -motorcylinder 43 which provides power to tilt the platform in Wa longitudinal direction. This form of tilting is known in the art as the Trendelenburg movement. The piston 44 in the cylinder 43 is connected by means of the piston rod 45 'with the connection 35. Thiscylinder is similar to the cylinders at the back of thetable in that it is of the double acting type to provide for forward and rearward tilting on the part of the platform. 'I'he piston rod 45 is tubular. in form and iluid is fed through this tube to the under side of the piston 44 when the piston is to be moved toward the upper end of the cylinder. A stufling box 46 is provided around the piston 45 to prevent the escape of the fluid when pressure is introduced into the upper end of the cylinder.

The piston motors vconnected to the sides of the section 23 and the shield 2I are single acting cylinders, one of them serving to move the platform in one direction and the other to move 4it in the opposite direction. Fluid lines 41 lead to the ends of the cylinders for the purpose of introducing uid under pressure to the chambers between the ends of the cylinders and the pistons in order to cause the operation of the various parts of the table.

To control the iiow of iluid under pressure to the cylinders, there has been provided a control box 48. This box includes a panel 49 on which any desirable indicia may be printed or otherwise applied to indicate which of the various sections will be *operated by any particular valve handle. In the particular form of the invention illustrated, six valves 50 have been provided within the control box and handles 5I are secured to the outer ends of the valve stems at the front of the panel 49. The valves 50 are identical in construction and a description of one is believed to be sufficient for all. These valves each include a body 52 formed with a central opening 53 through which the valve stem 54 extends. The inner end of the valve stem is provided with a head 55 having a pair of pins 56 projecting therefrom. These pins are received within openings formed in a valve disk 5l. This valve disk is shown in elevation in Fig. 10 of the drawings.

The disks are provded with a pair of spaced perforations 58 and an arcuate pocket 59 between these perforations. A coil spring 60 is positioned between the disk 5l and a cover 6I and serves to hold the former in fluid-tight relationship with the inner end of the body 52. The cover 6I is formed with a central opening for the reception of a tube 62 leading from a high pressure manifold 63. The body of the valve is prowith one of the ports 64.'

, asians cylinders to the reservoir.

When a valve handle is turned to one extremey of its movement, one of the perforations 58' in the valve disk will be positioned in registration This movement will also connect the other port 64 with the port 64a through the arcuate pocket 59. If the cylinder to which the valve is connected is a double acting cylinder, one of the lines 41 will then become an exhaustline fromy the end of the cylinder opposite to that which is receiving thel uid under pressure and the piston will move toward this end. If the motor cylinder happens to be a single acting cylinder, there will be no need to vent the opposite end and the valve handlewill be moved in the opposite direction to move the port 56'in the valve disk out of registration with the active port 6I and continued movement will cause the pocket 59 to connect this active port with the exhaust port 64a.

In the piping arrangement illustrated in Fig. 12, there is shown the various connections be- 'tween the pump, the power cylinders and the valves. As illustrated, the inlet side of the pump is .connected with the reservoir I2 by means of a tube 66. The outlet side of the pump is connected by means of a tube 61 with the high pressure manifold 63. A check valve 66 is positioned in the line 61 to prevent back ilow of the uid toward the pump I4. The control valves 5l) are positioned between'the high pressure manifold 63 and a low pressure manifold or line 65, this member communicating with the reservoir I2. A by-pass valve 69 is positioned in a line which connects the high pressure line 61 with the low pressure line 65. This by-pass valve is illustrated in Fig. 13 and includes a casing 1I having a piston valve 12 slidably positioned therein.

The piston 12 is provided with a plunger 13 which extends exterlorly of the casing 1I and is provided witha button 14 on its outer end.

. When the valve is in the position shown in Fig.

13, uid may pass without obstruction from the line 61 to the line 10. When the piston is moved into the cylinder by the application of pressure to the button 14, this ilow will be prevented and pressure will be applied by means of the pump to the fluid in the line 61 and the manifold 63. This operation is performed when one or more of the valves are turned to connect one or more of the power cylindersv with the high pressure manifold.

In the event the power supplying energy to rotate the motor I3 fails, or it is desirable to operate the table by hand power, there is pro and 61 must be provided with a certain amount A of extra length to prevent their rupture when the platform is elevated.4 All of the fluid lines must possess some flexibility at the points between the Various parts of the table where relative movement takes place.

the A From the foregoing, it' win be seen that an operating table hasbeen provided in which the Yvarious adjustments are performed at least semiautomatically through the use of iluid under pressure. Theattendant may control the operation of the table without performing any difficult movements and-may through the actuation of a plurality oi' valves providefor the 'simultaneous adjustment ofy a plurality of th'e parts of the table.l All of the adjustments may be controlled from a position ladjacent the control panel and the attendant will not be re- `quired to move from this location;

While I have shown and described the invention in one of its forms, it will be understood that many changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the various parts providedtheyv are within the scope of the in vention as defined in the claims. f

What is claimed is:

1. An operating table comprising a base, a co1- l umn provided on said base and having stationary and movable sections, a platform having pivotally connected seat, back and foot sections, a universal joint disposed between said seat section and the movable section of said column, a huid-pressure operated powerunit disposed at the sides and in front of said column, universal joint means connecting the ends of said power units with said seat and the movable section of said column, additional iiuid pressure operated power units connected at their ends with said back, seat and foot sections, and means for selectively introducing fluid under pressure to said power units to adjust said seat section about longitudinal and transverse axes and said foot and back sections relative to said seat section.

2. In an operating table of the type having a base, a vertically movable column, and a platform mounted for longitudinal and transverse tilting movement on said column, said platform having pivotally joined seat, backy and foot sections, a plurality of power units of the piston and cylinder type connected at one end with the seat section of said platform, the other ends being connected with the back or foot section of said platform or said column, means providing for the controlled operation of said power units comprising a reservoir for uid at substantially atmospheric pressure, a power driven pump for supplying fiuid under pressure, a high pressure manifold in communication with said pump, a low pressure manifold communicating with said fluid reservoir, and a separate control valve for selectively connecting each power unit with the high and low pressure manifolds.

3. In an operating table, a base, a vertically arranged cylinder carried by said base, a piston positioned for longitudinal movement in said cylinder, a platform supported onthe upper end of said piston for movement about a horizontal axis, a shield member carried by said piston and extending downwardly along the sides of said cylinder, said platform and member being movable with said piston, means for moving said piston in said cylinder, a power unit of the piston and cylinder type disposed on each side of the horizontal axis of movement of said platform, universal joint means connecting the ends of said power units with said platform and shield member, means for supplying fluid under pressure to the power units to vary the eifective length thereof and move the platform relative to the supporting piston, and control means disposed between said fluid lsupply means'and said power units,said control means being adjustable to selectively connect the power units with the fluidsupply means, said control means also providing for the ow of uid from either cylinder when the other is connected with said supply means.

4. In an operating table, a base, a vertically arranged cylinder carried by said base, a piston positioned for longitudinal movement in said cylinder, a platform supported on the upper end of said piston for movement about horizontal axes disposed at right angles, a shield member carried by said piston and extending downwardly along the sides of said cylinder, said platform units with the platform and said shield member,

power operated means for supplying fluid under pressure to said power units to vary the effective length thereof and move said platform about the horizontal axes. and control means dis- A posed between said power units and said fluid supply means.

WILLIAMD. BELL. 

